>> 70 degrees today. abc 7 news starts right now. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- an angry woman -- and angry rally over a woman's place in frederick. >> we should not be having this discussion. >> the emotional showdown and why the county is divided. he was born with a rare and shocking heart defect. his miraculous survival. man's best friend shot dead, but its owner fights back. live and in hd, this is abc 7 news at 11:00. we will begin with a gender showdown that is firing up a

county. dozens of protesters rallied in downtown frederick over some comments made by county commissioners. john gonzales is live in frederick. >> these elected officials in frederick have made it known they believe that the role of a woman is in the home during the commission for women fought back tonight. the public comments are divisive and critical. behind every candle, is a strong opinion tonight against officials in frederick, maryland. >> in 2011, it is just inappropriate. >> this is in response to controversial comments earlier this month. >> my wife is college educated. she could go out and did a very good job grade she gave that up for 18 years so that she could stay home with our kids.

>> my wife stayed home at a significant sacrifice during those early years because she knew she had to be with those kids. >> the comments were said before the of the board voted for the county's headstart program, and other major concern tonight. but not everyone in town has a problem with what the elected officials said. a group of demonstrators -- >> he did not say anything about anybody else staying home. >> the officials did not return our calls. the mother's role is primarily in the home and my wife happens to agree with me, as did many people, and said to my kids. >> that is fine for his personal thoughts. as a commissioner, he should do the will of the people. >> during this hearing, the

commissioners touted their wives and their sacrifices at home. the purpose was to recognize that women fill the new rules and some do not have an option but to go out and mark. let's get to our other big story. 70 degree temperatures for the second time this week. it is only february 17. >> the warm weather is not going anywhere. bob ryan is here with a early taste of spring. >> as a matter of fact, look at our current temperatures. these would be abnormally high -- in washington, temperatures are into the 50's and 60's. look at our high temperatures today. there were spots at 74 degrees. at the same time, because of that debris is, look at annapolis.

-- because of that debris is, look at annapolis. it was 59 degrees. our record high temperature is 76 tomorrow. we missed the record high by quite a bit, 79 in 1976. we will have our third 70 degree day tomorrow. best of all, a year ago, it was 37. just 10 inches of snow on the ground one year ago. the coats are in the closet and they have been replaced with short sleeves and sandals. we are live in arlington to continue our team coverage. >> people have been out and about throughout the evening, and joined the beautiful temperatures. this has been a very welcome taste of spring. it may be the full moon, or

perhaps a 50th birthday present for back up. >> look at the shops. the outside. it is lovely. >> the 70 degree temperatures left many people shouting layers. and speculating -- shedding layers. >> i have the day off. i picked up a good friend from california. she brought the warm weather, i guess. >> people strolled the streets and sat outside on park benches. >> go play out side. >> it is good to have a change of weather. >> for these children, warmer weather points to one thing -- spring break. >> we get to go on vacation. >> two days from now, we could be back in 20 degrees. you have to take advantage. >> a sure sign that spring will be moving and sen. >> you can feel it coming.

>> certainly music to everyone's ears, but there is a bit of dread tonight that this weekend's -- that this weekend, winter-like temperatures may move in. >> we have something that will lift your spirits tonight. an incredible story of what local boy's fight for survival. he is about to turn two years old. he may be the first child on record to survive this particular combination of large problems. >> on saturday, he is to celebrate his second birthday. >> birthdays mean a lot with ryan. we did not know if he would make it past one day. >> just 12 weeks after being conceived, but he was diagnosed with a serious heart defect.

>> i remember them saying that ryan would not live. >> only one of his ventricles function. he has a condition -- as you can see in this graphic video, his heart is grind outside the chest. >> survival for patients with this and a heart lesion it is almost 0%. >> a team of doctors decided to fight for his life. >> when he was born, he gasped for breath. he turned purple and stanley. the first up was to put a breathing tube in. the second step was to get -- to deliver the appropriate medicine to help the heart function. >> beating all odds, survived. >> it was pretty incredible.

>> he has had numerous surgeries and procedures, including a process to stretch his skin to cover his heart. he is progressing well, but he faces a tough battle. ryan is rarely seen without a smile. >> he is one-of-a-kind. he is a miracle. >> doctors plan to eventually close his breastbone to protect his heart. one day, he might require a heart transplant. doctors are thrilled with this miracle babies progress. we are following breaking news in prince george's county tonight. police say a man was shot and killed outside a recreation center. the man was gunned down in the 13,000 block of spring approached and died at the scene. people are still searching for the gunmen and it is not known what led to the gunfire.

a built-in md. that could legalize same-sex marriage will head to the senate floor. a senate committee in annapolis voted in favor of the measure on the condition that included a clause that protects religious groups from having to perform same-sex marriage. supporters of the bill say they have the 24 votes for the bill to pass. martin o'malley says he will sign the measure into law if it does reach his desk. a built in virginia that would ban texting and driving has been killed. all around our area, it is a primary offense in the district. talking on the fallen behind the wheel is a secondary offense in maryland. >> the strength of budget problems reaches an emotional impasse in wisconsin. it leads to protests and a

walkout by lawmakers. >> it is an assault on our family. >> we have learned that democratic lawmakers in wisconsin decided to leave the rockville, ill., and left the state. the departure forces the republicans to delay a vote on this bill. president obama is on the west coast meeting with some of the biggest names in technology. the president is in san francisco to get the leaders of tech companies behind his plan to continue spending on high- tech projects. he is also seeing steve jobs and eric schmidt. the president will toward a manufacturing facility owned by intel in oregon tomorrow. adc poster worker is honored as a citizen of the year for its act of bravery.

they ordered michael robinson the elites distinction. he came to the aid of an elderly resident that was beaten by a robbery. he then chased down and -- chased down the suspect. bill cause the's tour of s ty in the d.c. -- cosby' tour of duty in d.c. and >> a battle is under way in annapolis to protect animals.

you are watching abc 7 news at 11:00. this is abc 7 news at 11, on your side. as close of the deal of a virginia man accused of gunning down his estranged wife at a woodbridge restaurant. investigators say daniel lunie everette shot and killed alice

jenkins everette while she sat in her car at the chick-fil-a drive through. the couple was separated and in the middle of a divorce. jackson browne and alice cooper will be having a benefit concert. the concert raised money for a memorial fund for tucson. husband isgiffords's expected to speak at the event. the federal reserve is reconsidering a plan to limit debit card fees. officials made the plea before congress. the fed governor argued that the move would hurt banks. the proposal would set a 12 cent limit surcharge for transactions. merchants pay up to 2% of the total bill.

today was a date for 50 years in the making for bill cosby. the entertainer received the honor as a chief petty officer in the navy. many people do not know this, but he served as a navy hospital corpsman. >> that is great. >> he did have some funny stories. tomorrow will be quite a different than a year ago. 10 inches of snow on the ground a year ago. tonight, we did not have to shovel anything. we did not set a record, but so what? it was into the 70's. our high temperature today was 72 degrees. it's 57 degrees outside right now the last time we had 370

degree days in february was 1997. -- 3 70-degree days. i think you folks in fredericksburg may be at 75 degrees. remember earlier in the month, all this snow? they have had 19 inches of snow and oklahoma city. today was a record high, at 80 degrees. look at these temperatures. all of the country. even omaha, minneapolis. 15-20 degrees above average and is still very mild. because of that pattern changed well to our north. as we get into the weekend, it will take a little dip. a bit above average.

tomorrow, once again, our temperatures will soar into the 70's. by late tomorrow, tomorrow afternoon, you'll notice a cold front coming through. that will cut certain much cooler air. -- that will usher in a much cooler air. temperatures will be in the 50's, but it will feel quite a bit chillier than tomorrow. tomorrow, the temperatures and below to mid 70's. when you held tomorrow, for the morning, -- when you head out tomorrow, temperatures will be in the low 50's. that still their air -- that colder air comes into the weekend. the rain will not be coming until monday. by the way, we have some great

springlike pictures. du jour focus, not all ready? -- is your crocus coming up already? there it is. we will share them with everybody. an emotional plea by a local man months after his beloved there was shot and killed at a dog park. there is a plan to impose harsher punishments for anyone convicted of animal cruelty. >> his owner wants to protect animals and spare families the pain with which he is still struggling. a trip to the neighborhood dog park turned deadly for a three- year-old bearberry, a beloved pets. he got into a fight with a german shepherd. the owner of the other dog, a federal police officer, pulled out his gun and shot >> animals do not have rights.

>> the killing of the husky in the midst of a neighborhoods sparked outrage. the anger only group with the man who killed him got a fine and probation. to date in annapolis, -- to date in annapolis, they call for harsher punishment for animal cruelty. increasing the fines from $1,000 to $2,500. the shooting at the burning of a pit bull and a kitten in baltimore has the general assembly looking at creating new offenses before setting them on fire or using a handgun, a rifle, or dangerous weapon to harm an animal. a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. >> it is painful. someone decided that they did not want him to be there. >> supporters presented

lawmakers with a study which lists md. as 43rd among states when it comes to protecting animals. [ female announcer ] shopping with nutrition in mind

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the producer behind to -- talks about his secret to success.

we have sports coming out. >> the caps are planned right now. they are out in san jose as we speak. the first period is over. stephen strauss burk says that he feels great. stephen strauss burk says that he feels great. wait until you see this.

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the toyota sports desk. moving you forward. >> this was the first official

day of workouts for the washington nationals pitchers and catchers. the star of this show was stephen strasbourg. this was the first time we have seen him or her from him since he has ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow he made some light throws. afterward, he said he felt good. >> i am not going to go out there and do something stupid that could jeopardize how fast and will be able to come back. i will do what they tell me to do. just get better as fast as i possibly can. >> talk about attention getter, he arrived at the camp one day after he and the cardinals failed to reach an agreement on his new contract. he was jumped by the media. he is not going to talk about the contract now or when the season is over. close look at this.

-- >> look at this. >> i do not think my team mates deserve that. >> king albert. the caps are trying to win in san jose it for more than 17 years. the caps and sharks have played a very physical first period. right now, it is a 1-1 game. alabama-auburn is one of the great rivalries in college sports. but this was a travesty and alabama fan poisoned the oaks. the guy called a radio station and said he had put chemicals on the base of the trees. police traced the phone records to the fans house. he has been arrested and could face 10 years in prison. let's go to iowa. a wrestler with a record of 45-4 competed to -- refused to compete against a girl at the state tournament today.

he was disqualified. he defaulted against her because wrestling a girl would conflict with his religious beliefs. one final note, women's basketball tonight, md., said duke. the final, 69-47 merrill lynch. -- maryland. the biggest win

let's define the word on this great weather. >> -- let's get the final word on this gray weather. >> when you give up, 54 degrees to start the day. 74 in the afternoon. it will be a bit breezy, but look at fredericksburg. it could be 75 or 76.

after that, there will be some chilly air coming in. for the weekend, not bad. a lot of sunshine. >> that

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